Gillian Keegan says she briefly continued a meeting on Tuesday after finding out she was positive.
Image source, UK Parliament
A health minister has apologised for continuing with a meeting despite discovering she had tested positive for Covid.
Gillian Keegan said she found out her result during a visit on Tuesday, after taking a “precautionary” lateral flow test beforehand.
She added she briefly continued her meeting, with a group of bereaved fathers, with their consent.
But she said “on reflection” this was “an error of judgment on my part”.
In a series of tweets, she wrote: “When I was told my test was positive, I was listening to three fathers who had tragically lost their daughters to suicide.
“I told them the result and took further precautions but with their consent, I stayed for a short period to hear their stories,” she said.
She added: “I should have immediately ended the meeting, and on reflection this was an error of judgment on my part.
“I fully recognise the importance of following the letter and spirit of the policies, so want to be upfront about what happened and to apologise for the mistake I made.”
Ms Keegan, the Conservative MP for Chichester, added that she was now isolating at home and “fortunately feel fine”.
First elected in 2017, she was made a care minister at the health department as part of Boris Johnson’s cabinet reshuffle last September.
Guidance published on the NHS website says people should begin self-isolating “straight away” if they receive a positive Covid test result.
Speaking to ITV, fellow Health Minister Edward Argar said Ms Keegan had apologised to Health Secretary Sajid Javid and “he’s accepted that apology”.